The artwork titled “Procopius the Righteous Removes a Cloud of Stone from the Great Ustyug,” created in 1914 by Nicholas Roerich, belongs to the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement and serves as a religious painting.
The artwork vividly illustrates the miraculous moment of Procopius, a holy figure, dispelling what appears to be a menacing cloud of stone from the town of Great Ustyug. Roerich utilizes the pastel hues and sinuous lines characteristic of the Art Nouveau style to depict a serene landscape contrasted against a foreboding sky. The figure of Procopius, draped in a red robe, stands with an aura of sanctity, emphasizing his spiritual power. In the background, the town of Great Ustyug is portrayed atop a hill, with its architectural forms rendered in a mystical, almost ethereal manner. The juxtaposition of the dark, swirling cloud and the tranquil yet vigilant presence of Procopius underscores the dramatic tension of the scene.
